Victims tally losses after Alberni vandalism spree

Port Alberni RCMP are on the hunt for those responsible a weekend vandalism spree, Cpl. Jenn Allan said.

Several residents awoke Sunday morning to discover smashed home and vehicle windows, trashed lawn ornaments, and thefts of property contained within the vehicles. In all, police received 11 vandalism complaints, Allan noted in a press release.

The estimated cost of the damage is approximately $2,000, which will be shouldered by the victims and/or their insurance companies, Allan noted.

Specifically, the vandalism occurred in the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and 11th Avenue areas, as well as on Morton and Montrose Streets.

The incident is similar to a vandalism spree in central Port Alberni several weeks ago. In the majority of those incidents windows were smashed by rocks.

“These senseless acts of vandalism are extremely problematic for the victims and ultimately every community member as the costs are often absorbed and converted into elevated insurance premiums,” Allan said.

“The random pattern of the damage suggests that the culprit(s) were on a malicious crime spree damaging everything in their paths, and this is obviously very concerning.”

Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the local police detachment at 723-2424, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).